RACE, INEQUALITY, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: PROBLEMS, PSYCHOLOGICAL ROOTS, AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
For this project we will use our understanding of social psychology to research and create a policy paper on racial inequity in our communities.
This paper will have three main parts (complete each part in order).
1. A one to two page description about some of the problems we face regarding racial inequities.
2. A one to two page description that connects these problems to larger social structures and our understanding of the basic principles of social psychology.
3. A one to two page description of policy recommendations to address the problems of racial inequity. Each recommendation should be an action we should take and a description of how it would use what we know about social psychology to fix the problems we outlined in part 1.
As we begin this project, a few ground rules:
1. We will only use the terms "we" and "our" when discussing, writing and thinking about each of the different groups. We will not use "they" and "their". We will do this because we know the effects of in-group vs. out-group biases. We are trying to figure out how to make a more inclusive, fair and just world to live in. Examples: "Our police force is. . .", "Our young black communities are. . .", "our suburbs are mostly. . ."
2. People generally try to avoid public discussions of race because we may make mistakes that could offend others. Avoiding these discussions does not create neutrality but rather hides the real and important issues that we will be exploring here. Be conscious and ready to reflect in caring and self critical ways to challenges of our language and perceptions.
Schedule
Day 1.
Project assignment
Research the problems of racial inequity in our communities using the links provided below. Identify at least three significant effects of these trends that need to be addressed. Homework: Read and take notes on the essential questions and concepts of prejudice in our chapter on Social Psychology (Page 549-553)
Day 2
Write section 1
As a group connect the effects of inequity with what we know of social psychology.
How might these effects be the product of social psych?
Day 3
Write section 2
As a group discuss recommendations for government action to improve the problems of racial inequity in ways that address the underlying issues of social psychology.
Day 4
Write section 3
Review and edit all sections for clarity, citations and development of purpose.
Day 5 Edit sections 1-3 and write an abstract for your analysis and policy reccomendations
For this project we will use our understanding of social psychology to research and create a policy paper on racial inequity in our communities.
This paper will have three main parts (complete each part in order).
1. A one to two page description about some of the problems we face regarding racial inequities.
2. A one to two page description that connects these problems to larger social structures and our understanding of the basic principles of social psychology.
3. A one to two page description of policy recommendations to address the problems of racial inequity. Each recommendation should be an action we should take and a description of how it would use what we know about social psychology to fix the problems we outlined in part 1.
As we begin this project, a few ground rules:
1. We will only use the terms "we" and "our" when discussing, writing and thinking about each of the different groups. We will not use "they" and "their". We will do this because we know the effects of in-group vs. out-group biases. We are trying to figure out how to make a more inclusive, fair and just world to live in. Examples: "Our police force is. . .", "Our young black communities are. . .", "our suburbs are mostly. . ."
2. People generally try to avoid public discussions of race because we may make mistakes that could offend others. Avoiding these discussions does not create neutrality but rather hides the real and important issues that we will be exploring here. Be conscious and ready to reflect in caring and self critical ways to challenges of our language and perceptions.
Schedule
Day 1.
Project assignment
Research the problems of racial inequity in our communities using the links provided below. Identify at least three significant effects of these trends that need to be addressed.
Homework: Read and take notes on the essential questions and concepts of prejudice in our chapter on Social Psychology (Page 549-553)
Day 2
Write section 1
As a group connect the effects of inequity with what we know of social psychology.
How might these effects be the product of social psych?
Day 3
Write section 2
As a group discuss recommendations for government action to improve the problems of racial inequity in ways that address the underlying issues of social psychology.
Day 4
Write section 3
Review and edit all sections for clarity, citations and development of purpose.
Day 5
Edit sections 1-3 and write an abstract for your analysis and policy reccomendations
Resources for this project:
Inequality in Boston Schools discipline
http://learninglab.wbur.org/2014/11/19/report-black-latino-students-disproportionately-disciplined-in-mass-schools/
http://lawyerscom.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Not-Measuring-up_-The-State-of-School-Discipline-in-Massachusetts.pdf
Inequity in policing in Boston
https://www.aclum.org/sites/all/files/images/education/stopandfrisk/black_brown_and_targeted_online.pdf
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/08/aclu-charges-boston-police-engaged-racially-biased-tactics-police-call-report-inaccurate/Zev3p7jvRVQ2loKSWncu2H/story.html
Report on the persistence of segregation in American cities from the 2010 Census
http://www.s4.brown.edu/us2010/Data/Report/report2.pdf
Data about where police live in relation to the neighborhoods they police.
http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/most-police-dont-live-in-the-cities-they-serve/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/national/police-staffing/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/08/14/where-minority-communities-still-have-overwhelmingly-white-police/
Synthesis of research on racial perceptions of crime as a driving force of the criminal justice system.
http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_Race_and_Punishment.pdf
Article outlining trends in the legal system in relation to racial disparities
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/racial-disparities-criminal-justice_n_4045144.html